On the plus-side, we received a cornucopia of blessings to go along with our challenges. Reflecting, without hubris, on our accomplishments serves as a reminder to supporters of our worthiness AND, to our little band of volunteers, a high-five for their positive impact on our world in 2018.

Herewith, I am proud to present the annual list of notable 2018 accomplishments. It denotes the sustained commitment of Friends of Tandy Hills Natural Area to restoring, interpreting and raising awareness of our local prairie. Your support is VITAL as we move ahead in 2019.

The 9th annual Manly Men Wild Women Hike the Hills drew a smallish crowd of newcomers on sub-freezing New Years Day, 2018

Brush Bash #10 brought out the best in our crew of volunteers who cleared the west trailhead area

Our much-revered outdoor education program, Kids on the Prairie (KOP), notched year #8 hosting or sponsoring public and private school field trips

The Fort Worth Weekly's, Best of 2018 Award for Best Green Space, went to Tandy Hills Natural Area, for the third time

The Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission awarded Friends of Tandy Hills with a 28K grant to improve the entrire trail system

DY

02) Field Report - November

The Second Spring of October finally gave way to a few days of freezing temps, putting the kabosh on lots of confused wildflowers and their pollinators, ushering in the palette of Autumn. Check it out here.

Lovely wavy clouds on a lovely fall day at a lovely place called, Tandy Hills.

November sunset

A fine view on Thanksgiving eve.

A Thanksgiving hike was well rewarded.

The same mighty Oaks from a different perspective.

Texas Storkbill leaves in their autumn colors cover the ground in a few places.

The cool of the evening coming on at your local prairie on November 27.

03) 10th Annual Manly Men Wild Women, RSVP

Wow! Will it really be 10 years??? January 1, 2019 is just a month away, the same day you'll receive the next Prairie Notes. So, consider this your, aide-to-memorie. Only for brave and demented nature mystics. Feel free to RSVP.

04) New Species of the Month

Tandy Hills iNaturalist obervers continue finding new species topping out at 1065, up from 1037 on October 1. In November, at least six new species were recorded including: Chipping Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Olive Shaded Bird-dropping Moth, False Turkey Tail Fungi, Fractured Western Snout Moth and Salt Marsh Moth. Check out the Tandy Hills Project page on iNaturalist here:https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/tandy-hills-natural-area-stratford-...

Salt Marsh Moth caterpillar snacking on some greens.

Distinctive patterns decorate this caterpillar.

05) Monarch Moment...continued

At press time last month, I showed you the green chrysalis of a Monarch butterfly seen at Tandy Hills. A few days later the metamorphosis was complete. Here are some photos and video of the full miracle.

October 29

November 4

November 5

The paint is still wet on this one.

Finding its legs (and wings) just minutes out of the chrysalis.

06) Prairie Fire at Tandy Hills

On November 26, a widespread wildfire was reported at Tandy Hills. The FW Fire Dept. put it out, but not before several acres had burned. No one hurt. It will be very interesting to monitor the burned areas next spring for reinvigorated plant growth. Prairies do love fire.

A prairie fire begs for a plein air sketch. Debora Young took advantage.

Wttercolor sketch by, Debora Young

07) Star Notes

The PrairieSky / Star Party2018 season is over. With several rainouts it was a dissapointing year but, next season which starts in March 2019, we will add raindates. The free star-gazing events in cooperation with FW Astronomical Society, will take place on "selected" Saturdays when the night sky is most interesting.

The 2019 events pick up on Saturday, March 16, and will continue on April 13, May 11, June 8, July 6, August 10, September 7, October 5 and November 2. Occassional special events may occur. Mark your calendars.

Even though there is no star party in December, FW Astronomical Society rep, Pam Kloepfer has provided a little blurb about the December night sky for your use:

"December heralds the arrival of the magnificent winter constellations. The Pleiades star cluster can be seen almost directly overhead all night long. Look for a small dipper shape. The star Aldebaran marks the “red eye” of Taurus the Bull and follows the Pleiades. To the south is awesome Orion the Hunter, a huge constellation easily distinguishable by three stars in a row marking his belt. Follow the belt to the bright star Sirius, the brightest star in our night sky. Also known as the “Dog Star,” Sirius is in the constellation Canis Major - Orion’s dog! All of these targets are easily visible by just looking up; the Pleiades is stellar in a pair of binoculars!"

Jamieson's constellation atlas, 1820

From a set of constellation cards titled, Urania’s Mirror (1825) attributed to the Rev. Richard Rouse Bloxam.

See you in March, 2019

08) Honored & Humbled

Friends of Tandy Hills and its Founders, Don & Debora Young, received two major honors in November. On November 10, the Texas Society of Architects bestowed the 2018 Citation of Honor to Friends of Tandy Hills. On November 15, Don & Debora Young received the Green Source DFW, 2018 Sustainable Leadership Award from the Memnosyne Foundation. Both honors are greatly appreciated.

"Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread. A civilization which destroys what little remains of the wild, the spare, the original, is cutting itself off from its origins and betraying the principle of civilization itself."